Laboratory Safety

• • Beakers: Used for holding, mixing, and heating liquids. They come in various sizes.
• • Flasks: Erlenmeyer flasks and volumetric flasks are used for mixing, storing, and measuring liquids with precision.
• • Test Tubes: Small glass tubes used for holding small amounts of liquid or solid substances.
• Pipettes: Used for precise measurement and transfer of small volumes of liquids
• • Burettes: Used for accurate dispensing of liquids, especially in titrations.
• • Balance: Used for measuring the mass of substances accurately.
• • Hot Plate/Stirrer: Provides heating and stirring simultaneously, useful for various reactions.
• Gloves: Selecting the appropriate gloves for the chemicals and procedures being used, ensuring proper fit and compatibility.
• Goggles: Eye protection is essential for preventing chemical splashes or flying debris from causing eye injuries
• Lab Coats: Lab coats provide an additional layer of protection against chemical splashes and spills.
• Inspection and Maintenance: PPE should be inspected regularly for signs of wear or damage and replaced as needed. 
• Fire Extinguishers: Training should cover the types of fire extinguishers available, their appropriate use for different types of fires (e.g., Class A, B, C), and proper techniques for operating them safely.
• Eyewash Stations and Safety Showers: Personnel should be trained on the location and operation of eyewash stations and safety showers. This includes understanding when and how to use them in case of chemical exposure to eyes or skin.
• Emergency Contact Information: Accessible emergency contact information, including phone numbers for emergency services, campus security, and designated laboratory safety personnel, should be readily available to all laboratory personnel.
• Evacuation Procedures: Clear evacuation procedures should be established, including designated assembly areas and evacuation routes. Regular drills should be conducted to ensure all personnel are familiar with emergency evacuation protocols.
• Dealing with Accidents: Protocols should include steps for responding to accidents, such as chemical exposures or injuries. This may involve providing first aid, seeking medical attention, and documenting incidents for review and prevention in the future.
• Managing Fires: Detailed instructions for responding to fires, including using fire extinguishers, activating alarms, and evacuating the area safely, should be clearly outlined. Fire safety training is essential for all laboratory personnel.
• Handling Spills: Protocols should outline procedures for containing and cleaning up chemical spills safely. This may involve using appropriate absorbent materials, wearing protective gear, and following specific disposal guidelines.
• Mitigating Risks: Once identified, risks should be minimized or eliminated whenever possible. This may involve substituting hazardous chemicals with less toxic alternatives, using appropriate containment measures, or implementing engineering controls.
• Thorough Risk Assessments: Before conducting any experiment, it's essential to assess potential hazards comprehensively. This includes identifying chemical properties, equipment risks, and procedural hazards.
• Hair in the lab


  If your hair is long, it shall always be up in the lab. If it is not, it will catch on fire.
• Clothing in the lab

  Droopy clothing, especially sleeves, are a total disaster. Clothes should cover your body as much as possible; long pants, closed-toed shoes, and socks.
• It is generally suggested to avoid working alone in a lab, especially if working with any machinery or hazardous substances
• Hazardous Material (HazMat) diamond


  Each little box is rated 0 to 4, with 0 being "no big deal" and 4 being HOLY MONKEY BE CAREFUL. Blue is for health, red is for flammability, and yellow is for chemical reactivity.
• Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)


  Every chemical has one, and it'll tell you all the terrible things that it might do to you. You should have always read the MSDS before you even touch a chemical.
• Assume that every liquid in a lab that is not water is flammable
• Fume hood


  It sucks all the air in there out, so you don't have to breathe whatever is going on in there. You need to turn it on and make sure the sash is at the right level for it to work properly.
• Do not stick your face in something to smell it, waft it toward your face instead. Never test something by tasting it, and never pipette by mouth.
• Pipetting


  Use a pipette bulb or an automatic pipette to draw up and transfer liquids, not your mouth.
• Pouring liquids

  Commit to the pour, don't go slow, or it will dribble down the side.
• Cleaning up broken glass

  • Do not do this with your hands, use a broom and dustpan, and deposit the results into a bin specifically for sharp stuff.
• Inserting glass rods, thermometers, or tubing through stoppers

  • Use water, lubricant, or Vaseline to make it easier, and hold it close so your hand is not on the other side.
• Do not just dump experiment results into the sink, unless explicitly approved
• Disposing of chemicals


  Different solvents and reagents have to be disposed of differently. Always know the right way to dispose of something before you even start to use it.
• Apron


  It protects you and your clothes just a bit extra in case you're working with something hazardous like concentrated acids. Take it off if you spill more than just a bit of anything super bad on your pants.